kabiyak
spouse; partner in life; half
Usage Note
Kabiyak is a poetic and affectionate term for one's spouse or life partner, often used in formal speeches, wedding toasts, and literary writing. Derived from biyak (split, half), it conveys the romantic notion that a partner is one's other half — more tender than the neutral asawa and less formal than katuwang-buhay.
Examples
" Mahal ko ang aking kabiyak. "
Natural Translation
I love my spouse.
Literal Translation
Love I the my spouse.
" Ikaw ang aking kabiyak-ng-puso magpakailanman. "
Natural Translation
You are my other half forever.
Literal Translation
You the my partner-of-heart forever.
" Sa kanyang talumpati, ipinakilala ng lalaki ang kanyang kabiyak bilang katuwang sa lahat ng hirap at saya ng buhay. "
Natural Translation
In his speech, the man introduced his spouse as a partner in all the hardships and joys of life.
Literal Translation
In his speech, introduced the man the his spouse as partner in all of hardship and joy of life.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Tagalog Affixes Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Word Building
Tagalog affixes turn one root word into dozens of meanings. Learn prefixes, infixes, suffixes, and circumfixes with clear examples for beginners.

Filipino Food: 12 Essential Dishes (With Tagalog Names)
Filipino food, from adobo to halo-halo: learn the Tagalog names, pronunciations, and ingredients behind 12 dishes you'll want to try on your first trip.

Tagalog Slang Guide: 20 Words You'll Hear on TikTok
Tagalog slang explained: lodi, petmalu, werpa, astig, chika and more. Decode Filipino TikTok comments, group chats, and pop culture with this practical guide.

Philippines Geography for Learners: Islands & Language
Philippines geography for Tagalog learners: 7,641 islands, three island groups, and the Southern Luzon heartland where the Tagalog language was born.